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The University of Delaware men's basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament. As a University of Delaware graduate, I say ... oh goody.

That's about all the excitement I'm able to muster for UD basketball at this point, but it's more than I had last week.

I should explain.

I grew up a fan of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball – N.C. State to be specific. As a young kid, I was awed by David Thompson as he soared above the rim. As a teen, I remember Jim Valvano running around the court, looking for someone to hug after the Wolfpack shocked everyone and won the 1983 national title over Houston.

And then there were all the great ACC players from Carolina and Duke – though I wouldn't admit that to a Carolina or Duke fan – who gained national recognition in college and went on to NBA stardom.

That's something UD has never had, especially while I was there in the '80s. So I stuck with my ACC allegiance.

But then came Elena Delle Donne. I started to care a little more about basketball at UD.

I know. See bandwagon, hop on.

But sometimes that's what it takes.

So when the men's team pulled off Monday night's 75-74 win in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, I found myself sitting on the edge of my recliner, watching the team celebrate and feeling good about the win.

Before the game started, I had tweeted an open query wondering if this team could change my allegiance.

The answer. Not completely.

But the excitement of that win – a win that came down to the final shot – helped build in me a little alma mater love for UD basketball.

And that's more than I had before.

Read Only in Delaware daily in The News Journal and share in the Only in Delaware conversation 24/7 on delawareonline. Contact Jeffrey Gentry at jgentry@delawareonline. Follow him on Twitter: @jeffreygentry